Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh flagged off the trial run of Imphal-Mandalay Bus Service carrying 27 officials from both state and central governments from the complex of Hotel Imphal, North A.O.C. today.Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, IFCD Minister Ngamthang Haokip, Works and Transport Minister Dr. Kh.Ratankumar Singh and Secretary (Transport) M. Lakshmikumar Singh also attended the flag off ceremony.The team led by Director Transport Roshita and IGP Manipur Police Clay Khongsai comprises officials from various State Departments including Transport, PWD, Police, Com. & Ind.,Planning and Medical and six officials of Govt. of India represented by the Ministries of MoRTH, MHA, MEA and Deptt. of Revenue. The representatives from the private Tour operator Seven Sisters Holidays were also included in the team. Chief Engineer PWD M. Lokendro and Addl. Chief Engineer Kh. Temba were amongst the State PWD team.

The distance of Imphal- Mandalay is about 579 Kms. approximately if one takes the Yargyi road which is not all-weather road at present. The date for the trial run was finalised by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) in consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) and the Govt. of Myanmar. The trip will go upto Nay-Pyi-Taw covering a total distance of 859 kms where there will be a reception for India, Myanmar and Thailand team after passing through Tamu, Kalay, Monywa and Mandalay. There will be another official reception at Mandalay on Dec. 12 and the team is returning Imphal on Dec. 14.Briefing the media after the flagging off ceremony the Transport Secretary M. Lakshmikumar Singh said that this will be the final trial run which will sort out certain points like fare rate and other minor things. He added that the India-Myanmar-Thailand(IMT) road agreement which is coming up very soon will boost the bus service which will bring closer the ties between the people of Manipur and the Myanmarese Manipuris and at the same time will open new opportunities for trade and commerce.The Imphal-Mandalay bus service has been a long cherished dream of the people of Manipur which is intended to bring closer ties between the peoples of Manipur and Myanmar especially Myanmarese Manipuris. It may be recalled that a resolution was passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly on August 1, 2003 for introduction of the bus service between Imphal and Mandalay.

NEROCA FC, Sangakpam crush JSYC, Sadar Hills by 6-0 at the today’s only match in the ongoing 59th Sir Churachand Singh KCSI, CBE Memorial Football Tournament 2015, organized by the All Manipur Football Association (AMFA) at Mapal Kangjeibung.All the 6 goals of today’s match were score by 5 players of NEROCA FC. 2 goals were scored at the first half of the match where the remaining 4 goals were scored in the second half of the match.

Protesting the visit of the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi SIngh and Deputy Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh who were inaugurating the Orange Festival in the district today, Various Zeliangrong bodies today burnt the effigies of both the CM and the Deputy CM terming them as anti Naga and Anti tribal. In a joint statement signed by Titus Kamei, President ZYF, Rathailung Gangmei, Chairman ZYF Tamenglong , Thomas Kamei, President ZB (Manipur), Agipou Pamei, Chairman, ZB Tamenglong Zone and Ahinguu Riamei, President Zeliangrong Baudi, the present Manipur Government under the CM O Ibobi as communal government. It said the two leaders of the Manipur Government had come to Tamenglong in the name of Orange Festival to suppress the people of Tamenglong district.
The press statement also recalls the killing of two students at Mao gate, two students at Ukhrul and another nine tribal including a minor at Churachandpur in the backdrop of the mass protest spark after the passing of the 3 ILPS Bills at which they term it as anti tribal Bills. The joint statement further said that no benefit has been provided to the Orange grower of Tamenglong district even though they have been organising the festival for 12 years. It said cores of rupees have been released by centre but the Manipur government misappropriated it for their own benefit.

Secretary of Women Action for Development WAD today demanded the government for speedy justice to the victims of Crime against Women and Children in the state.“The state has already witness increasing crime on women and children, but the state government is not taking up any immediate and effective action to prevent in the rise”, said Sobita Mangsatabam, Secretary, WAD and also Convener, DWC-IE, UNMM while addressing at a Women Convention at Manipur Press Club. The convention was jointly organized by Women Action for Development (WAD), Conflict Widow Forum (CWF), North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF), and Domestic Violence Survivors Forum (DVSF) District Women Committee (DWC) Imphal East.Sobita read out a memorandum consisting list of demands regarding “Speedy Justice” which are categorically addressed to the Judiciary, the Legislature and the Executives which to be submitted to the President, Prime Minister, Home Minister of India tomorrow.
The demands made are not a new one, in fact it has always been demanding since long time back, added Sobita.She further said various types of mass agitations will commence if the demands are not fulfilled within three months of dateline.Some of the demands made by the convention to the Judiciary were speedy disposal of highly sensitive sexual assault cases of minor children and women; special court for rape victim; effective utilization of paramilitary forces in aid of civil administration; establishment of court (family and session) court in hill districts.

Proscribed group People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) today greets the people of the state on occasion of the International Human Rights Day Scheduled to hold across the globe. The PREPAK statement which wishes the people of the state elaborated the origin of observing the day. In a lengthy press statement the outfit said that the movement to provide equal human rights to all the people of the world has been often suppressed by some self interested leaders and the issues of human rights movement reached its peak during 18 century AD even though the movement began as early as 16 century. It said that the movement of human rights first exploded in the form of volcano in the European countries and later spread towards the United States. It reminded the human Rights movement in England in 1776 and that of the movement against deprivation of human rights of the common people in the year 1789. About a century after the France revolution the United Nations General Assembly declared the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948. The declaration is to assured all Human Rights to be equally granted to all the human in the earth.The PREPAK statement further said that even though there even as India regain Independence from the British and set up an administration based on democracy the country is still enforcing certain laws like AFSPA in WESEA region as well as in Kashmir Region which the British once used to suppress the people of their colony. Under this draconian act Indian is undergoing a genocide mission to the people of the region.Even as Justice Avtabh Alam and Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai if the Suprem court of India has exposed the suppressive authoritarian regime of the Indian government the Authority of India still continue different tactics to suppress the people of the region. Even as the NHRC and The AMNESTY International has warned the security force of the various fake encounter cases the India still continues their tactics to suppress the people.Justifying the revolutionary movement to restore the lost Independence of the region, the PREPAk said that world agreed to grant freedom to all the colonial country of the world. It said United Nations has adopted a resolution No. 154(xv) on December 14, 1960 called Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and People. Further the outfit also warn the people of the tactics being used by the Indian regime to distort the political boundary of the erstwhile kingdom which was merged to the Indian Union by dividing into pieces.
The PREPAK term the present political crisis in the state as an impact of the colonial rules to the people of the region. It appeals the people to understand the hidden agenda of the colonial government.The outfit also appeals the people of the state to jointly fight against the colonial force to free ourself from the claws.

The decision to give recognition to the so call unique history of the Nagas as proposed by the NSCN-IM by the GoI is a good step. Although no written document about the history of Nagaland exists, medieval documents of the neighbouring Ahom in present Assam State mentioned that in 1816 Assam was invaded by the Burmese (ava) after which they controlled the place (1819-1826). After 1826, the British annexed the region and started ruling over it. By 1892, the entire Naga region excepting Tuensang came under the British rule thus bringing to an end the massive bloodshed and inter-regional conflict. Post independence, the district of Assam called Naga Hills and Tuensang were made to represent a single unit under Indian administration. At the Naga Peoples Convention in 1960, it was finally decided that Nagaland will be considered a full-fledged state of India and in 1963, Nagaland was finally declared a separate state. But political and factional conflicts continued all these while and even presidential rule was declared after which many anti-government leaders agreed to accept the administration of the Indian Government. This is the simplest version of the so called unique history of the Nagas. Cut to the present- the demand for an “alternative arrangement”, according to the Committee on Alternative Arrangement, the proposed regions will have a political system independent of the Manipur Government- meaning-in simpler terms- freedom to do anything they like and wish without any government intervention (extortion, collection of illegal taxes from vehicles plying through the regions, looting and vandalizing of goods, battering of drivers to death, molesting women): otherwise why has the committee still adamant on sticking to their point of a separate region by disintegrating the state of Manipur, even when the Government has promised to review the working of the various development projects in all the hill districts of the State and to expedite ongoing ones. The contention of being neglected for decades is also one based on misinformation and lack of understanding of the past history of the state. It would bode well for the committee to ponder over the questions- how many decades in total has Mr. Rishang Keishing- the most prominent Tangkhul in the state, been the Chief Minister of the state and what were his achievements regarding development works in the hill districts of Manipur during his tenure? How many of the candidates from the NPF won the Manipur state assembly election? What was the message conveyed by that result? Which system will be more rational-allotment of constituencies according to the area covered or according to the density of population? Has the representatives of these group ever expressed concerns of inequalities or misappropriation over allocation of resources and benefits meant for their people? Before declaring their intention of handing over the decision for the course of action after the tripartite talks which is nothing but a veiled threat of inciting communal riot and mob laws, the matter should be looked at in an impartial and different perspective. Threats of resorting to violence and disruptions as a means to achieve their end will only result in regression of development in their region and alienation by the neighbouring states. The flagbearers of this non-issue should instead draw up a pragmatic plan of action to bring development and prosperity for their people if they are genuinely interested in their welfare and advancement instead of pushing the unwary people to conflicts and confrontations. Rest assured that every group, whether minority or majority, will extend their helping hand in their endevour. One cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.

Smart city is exciting everyone and all when it is being seen as an opportunity for many aspiring stakeholders from gullible common people on the streets to the loyal citizens to elite class of contractor-turned-politicians, bureaucrats, technocrats and contractors. Everyone seems to be already falling in line with the recently redefined north eastern region as “land of opportunities” by the rightist nationalist government in Delhi from being stigmatized as land of insurgencies over the last six decades. There is no surprise in Manipur’s political class shifting goal post to reap their bests to the directions that come down from New Delhi as it has been their hallmark characteristics of Manipur’s political class since the independent pre-existing state was made to merge to the wills of New Delhi through subversions of people’s own regional political aspirations. The idea of Smart city has got everyone into Imphal-centric thinking once again keeping the political concerns of the entire state: months long ILPS stir that occupied the all streets of Imphal just 3 months ago, out of sight and out of mind. Smart city seems to be the greatest concerns for the civil society groups than the deeply hurt emotions of hill people who still weep over the nine dead bodies lying without last rituals done. Indeed, public memory is short-lived. The ‘mandatory’ consultations with civil society members, being intensively pursued by the administration and over-excited technocrats, on the possible shape, size and money of the proposed ‘Smart city’ is already disengaging the valley people from their contesting positions with the political aspirations of the hill people. One may wonder if the 3 bills stir has already resulted into getting Smart city for the valley Imphalites and Framework Agreement for the agitating hill peoples! While Imphal is busy talking about smart city hill people are staging 9-coffin rallies in New Delhi and others are busy evolving implementation strategies of the Framework Agreement in the hills of Manipur. RN Ravi is giving renewed hopes that Nagas will be done at the opening of Hornbill festival in Nagaland and Kiran Rijiju is studying the 3 Bills carefully under pressures from Chief Ministers and MPs from Nagaland and Mizoram. A cursory look back into sequence of events and historical processes seem to reveal that the people of Manipur, particularly the valley people, have become a mass of apolitical and captive consumers’ society in the contemporary context. All are thinking independently; valley people for Imphal; hill people for the hills, Political class for new contract works for winning the next election, and New Delhi for the national security and development. No one has anything to do with the other.
Smart city for Imphal, extension of the ‘Disturbed Area Act’, ‘extra-judicial killings as sovereign duty of the state’ and ‘alternative arrangement’ for the hills have never been listed in any election manifestoes of any political parties in the state and yet these are becoming the realities, today for the people. This shows that people’s issues like ‘protection of territorial integrity’, ‘equal development for hills and valley’, questions of social justice, quality education, conflict resolution, peace and harmony in the state, public security, accountability and transparency in development works, better transport system and services, healthcare, child rights and protection of women have had no connection with the routine periodic electioneering processes and governance in the state. On the contrary, the gradual improvement in the voting percentage in every election and single political party winning absolute majority providing the most stable government in the electoral history of Manipur at present time further shows that there is clear disconnect between people’s issue and electoral politics in the state. This Smart city is clearly not the need of the people’s situation. The difference is easy to reckon from recent past. One MP from outer Manipur Parliamentary constituency could demand for ‘Honourable Naga political solution’ in the parliament session but none from inner parliamentary constituency took a position on the ‘political issue emanating from the controversial merger of the state’ which caused the protracted armed conflict in the state having taken toll of precious lives of younger generations. If the present MP from the inner constituency continues to remain silent to the Home Ministry’s recent position to the Supreme Court on extrajudicial killings in Manipur one surmise what is state’s politics all about? Whose government is this any way that people dutifully elect every five years that is run on 90% grant from the Centre? Is this for the people of state or for the contractors-turned-politicians or for the Central Government? It is this political economic context, the Smart city has been dropped in Imphal and so it is exciting for many who run the state and manage the centrally funded economy. Even while Manipur has to catch up with the winds of change under Act East Policy in the neoliberal global context, it could be worthwhile to question: how the proposed Smarty city is going to impact on and affect some of the persistent issues of the people.How would Smart city which will be based on smart and intelligent technology (power dependent and on which there will no local control) impact on the galloping population of unemployed educated youths (already crossing 7 Lakhs), the armed political conflict and violence situation, corruption in recruitment processes, increasing crime against women and children, and increasing militarization, hill and valley conflicts over land and natural resources, the dependent economy of the state, food security of the increasing population as against increasing loss of agricultural lands to non-agricultural usages, and increasing number of large land owners over small land owners? Most importantly so, will the army personnel respect the honourable elected representatives of the people inside the Smart city? More fundamental question is also why Imphal has not so far developed as a functional city? But even as the Imphal city has to emerge as Smart city by external designs and described as engine for growth by economists what sector of economy the city is going to grow on? Even when we leave behind the past and take a leap into 21st century what is the VISION of the economy that the Smart city is designed to take the people to in future that is at least socially, culturally and environmentally friendly, also? Whose vision that will be of any way: of the indigenous people of the state or of New Delhi or of the elite class in the state? If there is no clear understanding on how the proposed Smart city might impact on the contemporary issues and situation or connection with, then, the foundation of this city must be reconstructed by solving the many of these socio-political and economic problems, first, while keeping the dream for smart city at a distant place in future. Justice must be done without delay. If the foundation of Smart city is being built on by burying the truth about the skulls found in erstwhile Tombisana High School campus and silently approving the extrajudicial killings and deep militarization in the state in line of the Union Home Ministry then one can be sure of having a ‘High Security City’ instead of a ‘Smart city’. For, the security of the elite class is important than common people in the streets! Some people are more equal citizens than others if security force has the slightest suspicion on the loyalty of ‘the others’ in this occupied native state.